George Ferguson
Havre Daily News sports editor
gferguson@havredailynews.com
It was only two games. But that is all the Chester/J-I girls basketball team needed to not only capture the District 10C girls championship this weekend, but to prepare for a run at the Northern C divisional title.
On Saturday night in Cut Bank, the top-seeded Hawks were pushed by the Dutton/Brady Diamondbacks in the second half of the 10C title game. But when they needed to, the Hawks put the D-Backs away for a 58-45 win.
Chester/J-I raced out of the gates to a 15-11 first-quarter lead behind the play of Mary DeVries. The Hawks kept that lead throughout the second quarter and headed into the locker room with a 31-21 halftime edge.
Despite playing well in the second half, Dutton/Brady never got within 10 points of the Hawks.
DeVries scored a game-high 22 points to pace Chester/J-I. Amanda Violett and Brittney Kolstad each chipped in with eight points.
Chester/J-I reached the championship game with a 56-34 thumping of the Valier Panthers on Friday night.
Again, the Hawks were tested in the game, but they had too much offensive firepower, as they outscored Valier 18-6 in the final six minutes of the game to pull away.
Hannah Pimley led the way with 16 points and Keyla Briese added 13 in the win. DeVries racked up another double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds.
With the 10C title in hand, Chester/J-I will now focus on the opening round of the Northern C divisional tournament, which gets under way on Thursday in Great Falls. The Hawks will face Winnett at 7:30 p.m. And there is a potential semifinal game looming with 9C champion Big Sandy on Friday night, if both schools can win in the first round.
Friday afternoon in Wolf Point marked the end of the season for the Harlem Wildcats as they were bounced from the District 2B tournament by Glasgow.
Two days after losing a heartbreaking 41-40 game to Plentywood, the Wildcats didn't have much left in the tank as they fell to the Scotties, 51-41.
Harlem trailed by just two points at halftime, and by two at the end of three quarters. But the Scotties used a 7-0 run in the fourth to ease ahead and hold on for the victory.
In the final game of its season, Harlem got 13 points from Leandra Thomas and seven points from Ida Mountain Chief.
District 10C at Cut Bank
Saturday
Chester/J-I 58, Dutton/Brady 45 (1st)
C/J-I 15 16 14 13 - 58
Dutton/Brady 11 10 16 8 - 45
C/J-I - Amanda Violett 8, Brittney Kolstad 8, Hannah Pimley 6, Mary DeVries 22, Brianne Wolfe 6, Keyla Briese 2, Jackie Alisch 6. Totals: 17 24-31.
Dutton/Brady - Mandy Dutton 3, Carissa Storle 16, Ashton Gondeiro 6, Breanna Dahlman 2, Kayla Bokma 7, Ashlee Johnson 11. Totals: 16 10-22.
Fouls - C/J-I 16, Dutton/Brady 18; Fouled out - Bokma; 3-pointers - Gondeiro, Johnson.
Friday
Chester/J-I 56, Valier 34 (sf)
C/J-I 17 7 14 18 - 56
Valier 12 2 8 12 - 34
C/J-I - Brittney Kolstad 6, Hanna Pimley 16, Mary DeVries 11, Brianne Wolf 6, Keyla Briese 13, Jackie Allsch 4. Totals: 17 20-25.
Valier - Brandy Ahern 5, Ashley Breding 5, Aisha Snyder 13, Emily Breding 7, Mykayla Tatsey 2, Katie Baumans 2. Totals: 13 7-12.
Fouls - C/J-I 12, Valier 18; Fouled out - A. Breding; 3-pointers - Ahern, Briese.
District 2B in Glasgow
Friday
Glasgow 51, Harlem 41 (lo)
Glasgow 14 6 12 17 - 51
Harlem 8 14 10 9 - 41
Glasgow - Wesen 11, Archambeault 11, Waarvik 2, Sukut 2, Alsberg 2, Etchart 6, Morehouse 6, Enebo 11. Totals: 23 7-15.
Harlem - Danielle Dirden 5, Mountain Chief 7, Gemma Rides at the Door 6,Brooke Filesteel 4, Leandra Thomas 13, Amy Stiffarm 2, Star Carrywater 2. Totals: 19 6-8.
Fouls - Glasgow 15, Harlem 15; Fouled out - none; 3-pointers - Wesen, Archambeault, Dirden, Mountain Chief, Thomas.
